The Constitution of the United States explicitly guarantees the rights to “freedom of speech” and of “the people peaceably to assemble.” But the truth of it is, on-the-ground there are grey areas. And these grey areas are rife with misunderstanding and misinformation. So are curfews unconstitutional? What is the legal difference between shutting down a business district as opposed to a public square? When federal agents are sent to reign in local demonstrations without the permission of local leaders, is that illegal? If a police officer orders you to “disperse” and you don’t, are you committing a crime?      

This distinctly non-partisan Olio will make sense of these grey areas by exploring key moments in the social and legal history of American protest, including the watershed Birmingham civil rights protests of 1963. In the process, participants will learn about the nuances and importance of their constitutional right to protest, and about how that right has evolved over time.   

*All proceeds and instructor fees will go to the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute

The Birmingham Civil Rights Institute was founded to:

Enlighten each generation about civil and human rights

Explore our common past and work together in the present to build a better future.

 Your donation helps the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute in:

·        Preserving and telling the Birmingham story for the struggle for civil rights

·        Being a good steward of archival and financial resources

·        Creating programs that encourage cultural awareness and engagement

·        Championing civil and human rights by facilitating an atmosphere of dialogue and understanding